CHTMAG.COM CORDLESS CLEANING FEATURE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES Short run times held back the adoption of battery power but their developers are making great strides. Like other sectors, the cleaning equipment industry is reaping the benefit of pioneering work for motor and device manufacturers. Lead-acid batteries are used when weight is not an issue and come in different forms, each with its own features and benefits. Their cost and maintenance requirements also vary. Deep-cycle, flooded or lead-acid – These are the oldest types of batteries used in professional cleaning equipment, and are similar to those used in cars. The charge from within the battery comes from an electrolyte that is approximately 65 per cent water and 35 per cent sulphuric acid. Traditionally the most economical choice, they must be installed properly to prevent any discharge of the electrolyte, and maintaining them correctly takes more work. Gel batteries – These first came onto the market around 30 years ago. They also use sulphuric acid, but in the form of a gel. As they are completely sealed and do not need to be refilled with water, they are safer to work with and low-maintenance. Absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries – The electrolytes in these batteries are absorbed into a glass mat. While AGM batteries are more expensive than other options, they store well, hold their charge longer than other types, and offer greater manoeuvrability. Lithium-ion is the ‘modern’ choice for portable equipment, having replaced nickelcadmium (NI-Cd) technology. The rechargeable batteries now on the market operate longer between charges and energy usage is also improving. This rising ‘charge efficiency’ means operators get more power out for the amount of energy that’s put in. They are faster to re-charge so managing the downtime of a fleet is simplified. Past concerns about the reliability of battery-reliant equipment are also being allayed. A major advantage of this new battery technology – especially lithium ion – is the lightness of the batteries, making them suitable for a wider range of machines. The older generation of battery-powered machines tend to be heavier than the new models, which can detract from their manoeuvrability. Yet, while lead-acid batteries are much heavier, this can still be an advantage in certain applications. For example, we use lead-acid units in the Orbis Cordless Burnisher and the Orbis Battery Scrubber, where the additional weight applies more contact pressure with the floor, making for a more thorough and efficient clean. THE CHARGE OF THE +BATTERY- BRIGADE Powerful forces are driving the development and demand for cordless cleaning equipment. But mains-powered equipment isn’t nearing the end of the line just yet, says Stephen Pinhorne, UK sales manager of Truvox International One day, and it could be sooner than we think, we may dimly recall mainspowered cleaning machines like smokers in restaurants – or diesel cars on our roads. (The latter could be banned from UK cities before too long and mainstream politicians in the Netherlands are proposing that carbon-powered cars are driven off the roads by 2025.) The question for our industry is when will battery-powered cleaning equipment become the norm – and will all plug-in machines eventually reach the end of their tether? We don’t know the answers right now, but it’s clear that battery alternatives are steadily and stealthily gaining ground on their cabled counterparts. The drivers are not pollution and carbon emissions, of course. In cleaning, the internal combustion engine has been confined to industrial and outdoor applications, but even in these niche applications cleaner electric alternatives have taken over. Cordless or not, our cleaning equipment relies on the same electric power; whether or not it’s generated from renewable sources is another matter. But the pull factors driving the switch to batteries are strong, if not yet all-powerful. The main issues, in no particular order, are: Safety, flexibility and productivity Technological advances Daytime cleaning Cost and return on investment SAFER, MORE FLEXIBLE – AND PRODUCTIVE? It may not be the clincher for clients, but most do recognise the safety benefits of going cordless. Trailing power leads stretching across rooms and corridors pose a tripping hazard for building users and operatives. That risk shouldn’t be under-estimated. The Health & Safety Executive says slips (a different cleaning issue) and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work. Its information sheet on the importance of floor cleaning puts cables and leads from cleaning equipment top of its list of potential trip hazards. The more corners, fixtures and narrow spaces the greater the hazard of snagging cables, and the increased It may not be the clincher for clients, but most do recognise the safety benefi ts of going cordless. Trailing power leads stretching across rooms and corridors pose a tripping flexibility of a cordless hazard for building users and machine. Operatives don’t have operatives..” to stop continually to unplug, coil the cable and find the next socket either. This boosts productivity. Some have countered that the time spent recharging and/or swapping batteries can negate those productivity gains, but advances in battery technology are overcoming the drawbacks. DECEMBER / JANUARY 2017 17 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY
Cleaning Hygiene Today December/January 2017
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